Teach me to cry
when the day is done -
when it is finally fine to
let the guard down.

Teach me to cry
so that i do not carry the cry
in my face -
Aching
behind skin, over bone -
There,
where i practiced keeping a calm demeanor.
Pierce me!
Pierce my jaw!
My eyelids!
My cheeks!
Pierce them!
And let the wailing out of me -

That wailing,
all the words that i want to say when i do say
-i will not argue -
- Here are your choices -
-i am leaving now-
or
- i’m willing to take that risk -
When i am acting to keep the peace
and acting to keep myself in one piece.

Teach me to cry,
to empty myself,
to unburden before the next day
so that the cry does not harden
deeper than my flesh, my bones,
and into my soul
where i am burning still.

Cleanse my eyes -
My soul is not heavy yet,
and it’s windows should not be shuttered!
Teach me to cry so that when i say
Enough
i can still say
i care

Somewhere here
between the pride and tears,
in crevices of
long, long days:
a point of faith is
holding it all
together.
Come,
sit down,
kick back,
and be with me.
I see your smile
Creaking through
And know it’s nothing new
to have everything collapse in on you.
But ah!
There it is again!
A grin -
More courageous
than the fight you’re raging through.
Come,
i’ll walk
a mile with you.
Soon enough
You’ll go somewhere
so very far from here.
Long long roads
will come your way,
and this I pray -
That you’ll take away
some point of faith
holding life
together

- for my basecamp kids